Wild Things sputter, fall to CornBelters
Wild Things’ John Fidanza tags out the CornBelters’ Pat McKenna to end the top of the third inning during Friday night’s game at Consol Energy Park.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter The Wild Things’ Austin Wobrock gets a double that sends David Popkins and Carter Bell home during the bottom of the fourth inning on Friday night.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Wild Things’ David Popkins is congratulated by third base coach Andrew Davis after hitting a home run in the second inning against the Normal Cornbelters on Friday night.
The first game after the all-star break is a time for a baseball team to hit the refresh button on the season.
The Wild Things needed a reboot after a frustrating first half that left them mired in sixth place in the Frontier League’s seven-team East Division, but the initial game after the break produced more of the same home-field frustrations.
Second baseman Santiago Chirino drove in three runs and the Normal CornBelters overcame a three-run deficit to beat the Wild Things, 6-4, Friday night before 3,007 fans, the largest crowd of the year at Consol Energy Park.
Though Washington has been successful in road games, compiling a 15-12 record, the Wild Things are only 8-17 at home. This had two of the same elements as previous home losses: too many runners left in scoring position and a lead that slipped away.
The Wild Things led 4-1 after four innings, but Normal scored five runs over the next two frames and its relief pitchers combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings.
Washington left eight runners on base, including five in scoring position over the first six innings.
“Two words: missed opportunities,” Washington manager Bob Bozzuto said. “We had chances early in the game to add to our lead and we didn’t take advantage.
“The bottom line is we didn’t hit the ball with runners in scoring position. Some of the guys we expect to hit haven’t been. How many times have we had a runner on second base with no outs, or second and third with one out, and not scored?”
Washington forged a 1-0 lead in the second inning when David Popkins drove a pitch from Normal starter Kevin Brahney the opposite way and off the video board in right field. It was Popkins’ 17th home run, which ties him for the league lead with River City’s Taylor Ard.
Normal, which began the night in second place in the West Division, made it 1-1 in the fourth on catcher Jim Vahalik’s run-scoring single. Vahalik, who played the last three years with the Wild Things and four games this season before being released, had a nice return to Washington, going 2-for-4 and picking a runner off first base.
“This was a good win for us, especially the way the first half ended, losing four of five,” Vahalik said. “The bullpen did a good job tonight. This is a team that can get hot at any time. I was telling the guys that this team has the same feel of the team we had last year in Washington.”
The Wild Things took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Scott Kalamar tripled and scored on a single by Carter Bell before Austin Wobrock smacked a two-run single.
Normal, however, chipped away at the deficit, pulling to within 4-3 in the fifth when it took advantage of three walks by Washington starter Luke Wilkins, who issued five free passes in five innings. Chirino drove in a run with a double and scored to cut Washington’s lead to 4-3.
The CornBelters scored three more times in the sixth with some more help from the Wild Things.
After Aaron Wright led off the inning with a single off reliever Tim Giel (2-4), Vahalik was unable to put down a sacrifice bunt before smacking a two-strike single. The Wild Things then misplayed a bunt by Jason Merjano as Giel fielded the ball and threw wide to first base to load the bases.
A balk then forced home the tying run, and Chirino hit a two-run single to right field that made the score 6-4.
“They get that leadoff single, then can’t get the bunt down. But we weren’t able to get the strikeout or an out. They get a hit,” Bozzuto lamented. “Then they put down a bunt and we can’t get an out. It wasn’t a good inning.”
Pitcher Kyle Helisek, who is on the 14-day disabled list, had an MRI on his left arm Friday and the Wild Things are awaiting the results. Helisek was voted to the East Division team for the all-star game that was played Wednesday in Schaumburg, Ill., but he did not play because of the injury. … Kalamar, Washington’s right fielder, had two assists and robbed Merjano of extra bases by making a leaping catch at the wall in the fifth inning. … Normal was without outfielders Mark Mikowski (ribs) and Ozney Guillen (foot). Mikowski recently had a league-high 24-game hitting streak end.